Deleted member 3177
Life just isn't hard enough
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On every strata of predatory mammals the subjacent social hierarchy is moved by a power dynamic; the relationship between alpha and beta. Of course, these are not the only grades of authority animals are subject to, but they are the ones pertinent to this thread. As I have accumulated posts in this forum, one of my underlying questions has always been what should a user do to acquire a certain amount of primacy. In other words, how they could be in the spotlight.
We have seen many such cases of users who have, temporarily, railed the userbase in with their content. This, I thought the most effective way to properly gain a place in a higher hierarchy of sorts; however, as time went on and these various users lost their former relevance, I turned to another point of view; a way to give your account life endurance. Thus I started to compare the dynamics between users as anthropologists and biologists did the dynamics between carnivorous animals.
The alpha is a leader, though not necessarily through predetermined genetic conditions, he is aggressive, a dominant link. The beta is submissive and weak, compliant with the alpha, and never strictly individualistic. By the same token, the paradigm of social media hierarchies also embodies this structure: the alpha users are strongly individualistic, dominant and aggressive, while the beta users tend to pack together, moved by the need to form a larger group. However, the shift from a physical medium, where dominance is decided through feats of strength and leadership, to a medium such as a forum, where your persona is strictly decided by your own portrayal by text, makes for a more complicated dynamic.
The alpha users tend to share a compact series of attributes and traits which make them stand out and instill a sense of authority upon the beta users, who trail behind them and support them, as they sense that this trade signifies a better standing in the hierarchy. The alpha is ruthless, violent, and is an advocate of bullying, by relentless abuse of a determined individual. This shows the beta that he must not challenge the alpha through his own means, if not by packing and confirming a mass. Many such examples can be observed in the wild.
www.newscientist.com
Through lynching, the beta acquires alpha status, though he holds not the characteristics imbued into the alpha's behaviour. This display can be seen in many occasions in social media; through force of quantity, betas pack against the individualistic alpha, and proceed to brutally beat him. What does this tell us?
Though many Reddit users are quick to characterize the wolf as a "good pupper boi looking for hooman belly rubs" [sic], there is no doubt that this animal would slaughter the beta and run away with his skin.
We have seen many such cases of users who have, temporarily, railed the userbase in with their content. This, I thought the most effective way to properly gain a place in a higher hierarchy of sorts; however, as time went on and these various users lost their former relevance, I turned to another point of view; a way to give your account life endurance. Thus I started to compare the dynamics between users as anthropologists and biologists did the dynamics between carnivorous animals.
The alpha is a leader, though not necessarily through predetermined genetic conditions, he is aggressive, a dominant link. The beta is submissive and weak, compliant with the alpha, and never strictly individualistic. By the same token, the paradigm of social media hierarchies also embodies this structure: the alpha users are strongly individualistic, dominant and aggressive, while the beta users tend to pack together, moved by the need to form a larger group. However, the shift from a physical medium, where dominance is decided through feats of strength and leadership, to a medium such as a forum, where your persona is strictly decided by your own portrayal by text, makes for a more complicated dynamic.
The alpha users tend to share a compact series of attributes and traits which make them stand out and instill a sense of authority upon the beta users, who trail behind them and support them, as they sense that this trade signifies a better standing in the hierarchy. The alpha is ruthless, violent, and is an advocate of bullying, by relentless abuse of a determined individual. This shows the beta that he must not challenge the alpha through his own means, if not by packing and confirming a mass. Many such examples can be observed in the wild.
Gang of chimpanzees kills their alpha male
Four lower-ranking chimpanzees have banded together to assassinate their group's leader and take his place
Through lynching, the beta acquires alpha status, though he holds not the characteristics imbued into the alpha's behaviour. This display can be seen in many occasions in social media; through force of quantity, betas pack against the individualistic alpha, and proceed to brutally beat him. What does this tell us?
Though many Reddit users are quick to characterize the wolf as a "good pupper boi looking for hooman belly rubs" [sic], there is no doubt that this animal would slaughter the beta and run away with his skin.
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